Blog

Catch up on the latest news about our efforts to protect the Blue Ridge Parkway.

Photo by Vicki Dameron

Blue Ridge Music Center Announces Summer Concert Lineup

March 2, 2022
This summer, the Blue Ridge Music Center is celebrating 20 year of hosting concerts in the hillside amphitheater at milepost 213 on the Blue Ridge Parkway near Galax, Virginia.  Taking the stage are fan favorites, including North Carolina-based acts such as the Steep Canyon Rangers, Kruger Brothers accompanied by Kontras Quartet, and Chatham County Line, and Virginia-based acts The Steel Wheels, Dori Freeman accompanied by a Winston-Salem Symphony String Quintet, and Bill and the Belles. 
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Holiday Gifts that Give Back

December 14, 2021
Need a great gift for a loved one? We’ve got perfect presents for people who love music, the outdoors, photography, puzzles, getaways, and more. The best part is that each gift also shows your love for the Blue Ridge Parkway. Happy holidays!   Give in honor of a loved one
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Your gifts complete exterior renovations at Flat Top Manor

December 10, 2021
After 14 months of exterior renovations, Flat Top Manor, the centerpiece of Moses H. Cone Memorial Park on the Blue Ridge Parkway, once again gleams from its perch overlooking Bass Lake, thanks to you. Blue Ridge Parkway Foundation donors and the National Park Service funded the $2.4 million rehabilitation on the circa-1901 Colonial Revival style home completed this fall.      
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New display honors Camp Catawba & Lachmann

October 29, 2021
On October 15, the Blue Ridge Parkway Foundation and Blue Ridge Conservancy unveiled a display sign along the Middle Fork Greenway in Blowing Rock, N.C., to commemorate Camp Catawba and the work of the camp’s director Dr. Vera Lachmann, a Jewish refugee of Nazi Germany. The sign also features information about music director Tui St. George Tucker. In addition to the typical outdoor activities, the summer camp for boys was known for its cultural programs. The campers acted in plays, played in an orchestra, and sang in a choir.
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The economic impact of the Blue Ridge Parkway

September 22, 2021
For millions of annual visitors, the Blue Ridge Parkway provides a one-of-a-kind experience with its breathtaking mountain views, miles of trails, diverse wildlife, fascinating historical sites, and enthralling cultural events. That’s why in 2020, it attracted more visitors than any other national park unit.
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Preorder the New Virginia Parkway license plate!

June 17, 2021
We are thrilled to announce that Blue Ridge Parkway fans in Virginia can now preorder a beautiful new specialty license plate to support projects and programs within the national park unit!  The Blue Ridge Parkway Foundation's specialty plate will cost $25 annually for a standard plate and $35 annually for a personalized plate for your vehicle or motorcycle. A portion of proceeds from each sale will support our mission to protect and preserve the Parkway.
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The Bluffs Restaurant to reopen May 27

April 13, 2021
Great news! The Bluffs Restaurant at Doughton Park will reopen on Thursday, May 27, with a new team managing operations. Heritage Dining and Events, LLC, led by Sharon Pinney and Chef John Gamradt of Boone, N.C., bring a combined 35 years of experience in the food service industry to the historical restaurant at milepost 241 on the Blue Ridge Parkway. “Heritage is honored and excited to be a part of bringing The Bluffs, a cherished iconic restaurant, back to life,” said Pinney, President of Heritage Dining and Events.
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Restaurant operator sought for The Bluffs

February 17, 2021
Update: Stay tuned for an announcement about The Bluffs operator coming soon. The Blue Ridge Parkway Foundation is seeking a partner to operate The Bluffs Restaurant starting this spring and continuing through fall. The restaurant is located within Doughton Park at milepost 241 on the Blue Ridge Parkway. The Bluffs was a favorite among Parkway visitors and operated for more than 60 years before closing in 2010. Last year, the 80-seat restaurant underwent extensive interior renovations in order to welcome diners back.
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Staying connected in 2021

January 15, 2021
Let’s not call them resolutions; let’s just say we’ve got lots of opportunities to start great habits and traditions in the new year. Here are suggestions for activities and ways to stay connected to the Parkway year-round.   Take a virtual hike
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First Day Hikes on the Blue Ridge Parkway

December 30, 2020
If you need a healthy way to put 2020 behind you, step into the new year with a First Day Hike on the Blue Ridge Parkway this January 1. And by “on the Parkway,” we mean on the road itself! 
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2020 Holiday Gift Guide

December 11, 2020
This holiday season, give a gift that your loved ones will treasure -- all while supporting the park you care so much about. You can also add them to your own wish list. Check out our full guide of great gifts below.    Gifts that Give Back 
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Renovations begin at Flat Top Manor

December 10, 2020
We are thrilled to announce that the long-awaited transformation is underway at Flat Top Manor on the Blue Ridge Parkway. Last week, crews began repairs to the weathered exterior of the circa-1901 Colonial Revival home, the centerpiece of the 3,500-acre estate that is now Moses H. Cone Memorial Park.
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Wilderness signs credited for decrease in search and rescues in Haywood County

December 7, 2020
More than a year after informational safety signs were installed at Graveyard Fields in Pisgah National Forest, Haywood County Emergency Services recorded a 50 percent decrease in search and rescue calls on federal land in the county. Overall, 90 percent of search and rescue calls in Haywood County occur on federal land, according to Haywood County Emergency Services Director Greg Shuping.
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